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Obituary

Mass of Christian Burial for Bob Ritzdorf age 63 of Howells, NE will be on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Howells, NE with Fr. Stan Schmit as celebrant. Interment will be in the Sacred Heart Ce...
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Mass of Christian Burial for Bob Ritzdorf age 63 of Howells, NE will be on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Howells, NE with Fr. Stan Schmit as celebrant. Interment will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery-Olean, rural Dodge, NE. Visitation will be on Monday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 3:00 p.m. and a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m., at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Howells, NE. Vi station will continue on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at church. Minnick Funeral Chapel in Dodge, NE is assisting the family with the arrangements. Memorials may directed to the family for future designation in Bob's name.

Robert (Bob) D. Ritzdorf was born on April 20,1955 in Schuyler, NE to Robert W. and Rosalyn (Faltin) Ritzdorf. He grew up on the family farm south of Howells. He passed away on February 19, 2019 at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha following complications of heart surgery.

Bob attend kindergarten at District 22 rural Howells and then completed grades one through six at St John Nepomucene in Howells. Bob was in the first class to move to Howells Public School for Junior High. Bob graduated from Howells High School in 1973. On June 4th, 1973 he was hired by Elmer Bradley to work at the Howells Bank. In July of 2018 he completed 45 years as a loan officer at the bank. Bob was currently the Vice President and assistant branch manager of the Howells branch of Homestead Bank.

Bob waited many years to find just the right person to share his life with and on July 27th,1996 he was united in marriage to Sally Klitz at Sacred Heart Church, Olean. Their greatest joy was in May of 2000 when they traveled to China to bring home their daughter, Emily. Bob passed on his faith, his determination to do everything to the best of your ability, love of family and his great joy for sports, especially basketball. Bob spent his spare time taking walks with Sally, fishing with Emily in Maple Creek and replaying in detail every basketball game Emily was in.

Bob had a great dedication to his community. He served as President of the Community Club, helped organize the annual 4th of July celebration and later Hooter Rock. He was well known for acting in the Centennial melodramas in Howells. Bob was a member of the Sons of the Legionaire where he served as treasurer. Bob was a long time member of St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church where he was an EMHC, trustee and served on the finance committee.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Bob’s love of sports started in high school where he was a member of the Howells Bobcat’s football, track and his favorite, the basketball team. Bob was a member of the 1973 State Championship team. After high school, Bob shared his skills with the youth of the community. He coached 5th and 6th grade boys basketball in the winter and baseball in the summer. When Emily was old enough, he began coaching girl’s softball. He served as treasurer of the Little League for many years. For over 40 years, Bob was the official scorekeeper for the high school varsity boys and girls basketball games and kept the clock at the football games. Of course, Bob’s favorite role was teaching Emily the basics of basketball and seeing her team achieve a State Championship in 2017.

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Cousin, Kevin Ryan

Posted
Feb 25, 2019
at
08:11am

So sorry to hear of Bob's passing, I will always remember the time's visiting on the farm, Bob was so easy going, never seemed to get upset and was always kind to me and my brothers and Mom when we visited Howells.
Thinking and praying for all the Ritsdorf family.

Cousin Steve

Posted
Feb 24, 2019
at
07:43pm

I am so sad to hear about Bobby. I will always remember and cherish his ear to ear grin and his laugh. He was always happy to take time to visit even when unexpected if only for a few minutes. I pray for Uncle Bob and Aunt Rosalyn, my cousins Tom, Ken, Janet, and Doris to have strength during this difficult period in addition to Sally and Emily...these are times when family is important to lean on. I will run a 10k in April in honor of Bob and since I have heard of his passing, I keep hearing the song 'Angel from Montgomery' written by John Prine sung by Bonnie Raitt...Bob certainly was an angel...
Love,
Steve
Flagstaff

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